DCMS chair tells Robin Smith to withdraw "unlawful pressure" remark as Lord Patel pleads for ECB support

EXCLUSIVE - GEORGE DOBELL: Julian Knight described himself as "deeply concerned" over plans to oust Lord Patel, Yorkshire's new chair. He warned that it would send "the wrong message" to the ECB, sponsors and the wider cricket community

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee chair is demanding an explanation from former Yorkshire chair Robin Smith, after he claimed the panel had applied "unlawful pressure" on the ECB, amid fears Lord Patel will be forced to resign the chairship at Headingley. 

Julian Knight told The Cricketer he took "great exception" to the comments and suggested "it would be wise" for Smith to "withdraw it immediately". 

Knight also described himself as "deeply concerned" over plans to oust Lord Patel, Yorkshire's new chair. He warned that it would send "the wrong message" to the ECB, sponsors and the wider cricket community if "a few weeks after a racism scandal, the club's first Asian chair could be forced out of office".

In a statement to The Cricketer, the ECB said "it is not acceptable for anyone to stand in the way of progress" at Headingley.

Knight's intervention comes after Smith, a vocal defender of the old regime at Yorkshire, wrote to Patel on Saturday. The message, to which several journalists and ECB board members were copied in, contained an accusation that "the ECB's threat to suspect test [sic] matches, this was issued under unlawful DCMS pressure and is of questionable legal validity".

That comment, in particular, left Knight deeply unimpressed. 

"I'm deeply concerned about what's going on at Yorkshire," Knight told The Cricketer. "I intend to write to Robin Smith demanding he explain to the committee exactly what he means by accusing us of 'unlawful pressure'. I take great exception to the accusation and think it would be wise for him to withdraw it. He is a lawyer: he should know you cannot bandy such expressions around. 

^{Lord Patel is understood to be considering walking away from Yorkshire}

"More widely, it strikes me as alarming that, a few weeks after a racism scandal in Yorkshire cricket, the club’s first Asian chair could be forced out of office.

"This would be beyond bad optics. It would, in my view, be very damaging to the club’s prospect of hosting international cricket and their chances of convincing all those sponsors they lost to get back involved with the club.  

"Any 'empire strikes back' from the old guard at Yorkshire trying to take back control would send the wrong message to the ECB, sponsors and the wider cricket community.

"I remind Mr Smith that the ECB has said the return of international cricket to Yorkshire remains conditional upon governance reform being completed. I retain the right to call him to give evidence to the DCMS committee in person, too."

Smith's email to Patel was followed up by an offer of a secret meeting of three Yorkshire chairs, past and present: Patel, Smith and former ECB chair Colin Graves.

An email from Smith to Graves, seen by The Cricketer, states his hope that Patel will "withdraw gracefully as soon as possible" and that the ECB will guarantee an "unconditional return of tests [sic] etc" and an "acknowledgement of fault" from them in suspending international cricket originally. It also demands "an ECB indemnity for resulting losses".

As thing stand, Yorkshire's ability to host international cricket is dependent upon them bringing through governance reforms before the end of March. Smith vehemently opposes the majority of the reforms and insists, in his message to Patel, that Yorkshire members are "told of the extent of the compensation due to the club from the ECB as a consequence of the implementation of its unlawful threat". 

^{Yorkshire has until the end of March to show the ECB they have made the necessary progress to retain international fixtures}

Meanwhile, it is understood that Patel, who is battling personal and family health issues, has written to the ECB imploring them for "formal support" and warning them "I cannot carry on in this position".  In an email to various ECB executives, including Tom Harrison, Patel wrote: "Without firm formal support from ECB I am left wide open legally to be sued. I cannot carry on in this position. 

"I have now told YCCC [Yorkshire] that I will step down working seven days a week and simply do what I can pro bono (as hopefully the team can get on with the work needed). But the issue of Robin and his colleagues still remain and it feels like no one is prepared to tackle him? 

"I believe that all his demands will not fulfil ECB conditions? However, if it allows the club to move forward properly I am more than happy to step away."

Patel is especially concerned by the threat from Smith to pursue him personally for any decisions made at Yorkshire in recent weeks. With the club having struggled, through various procedural issues, to formally validate Patel's position, Smith alleges he currently has no legal authority and that any losses incurred on his watch – including the potential loss of international hosting and the potential of litigation from former members of staff who had their employment terminated – should be repaid by him personally.

Patel has, therefore, asked for support from the ECB. To this point, that has not been forthcoming with the ECB explaining they have no jurisdiction over Smith who no longer holds an official position at a club.

A spokesperson for the governing body told The Cricketer: "The ECB board is deeply concerned about reports of division at Yorkshire CCC. 

"Given all that we have heard from Azeem and others about the club, it has been absolutely clear that reform is needed. Lord Patel has set out a significant and serious plan to make Yorkshire CCC a modern and diverse club capable of representing and engaging all communities in Yorkshire. 

"We want to see all parties work together to support Lord Patel in the reform package he has set out. It is not acceptable for anyone to stand in the way of progress at YCCC."

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